Stomach flu on the rise as mercury shoots up in Delhi
SUMMER WOES Experts say that hot weather is conducive to the growth of bacteria
NEW DELHI: With rising temperature, doctors across the city have registered a rise in the number of people with symptoms of acute diarrhoea, vomiting and abdominal pain.
“Over the past 10 days, there has been a 25% rise in people suffering from gastroenteritis, abdominal pain and diarrhoea,” said Dr Yogesh Batra, director of Gastroenterology at BL Kapur Multi-Speciality Hospital.
Warm weather provides conducive atmosphere for the growth of bacteria, which is responsible for the rise in the number of cases of stomach flu and other gastrointestinal problems this time of the year. “Apart from that, the fatigue caused by the excessive heat can also lower the immunity, making it easier for people to contract diseases,” said Dr Batra.
He said people must avoid going into the sunlight and carry umbrellas while stepping out.
“Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract usually spread through contaminated water. Due to the heat, people tend to drink water from street vendors when they are outdoors. It is important that they drink only filtered or boiled water. It is best to carry water from home,” said Dr Suranjit Chetterjee, senior consultant for internal medicine at Apollo hospital.
He also suggested that people should avoid drinking juices as they are not prepared in a clean environment with flies and mosquitoes hovering around the stalls.
Doctors suggested that freshly cooked meals were the best. “If people are eating food that has been prepared the previous day or earlier in the day, they must ensure that it has been refrigerated properly and they must heat it before eating. Meat and dairy products should be handled carefully,” said Dr Chatterjee.
Washing hands and following basic hygiene practices like keeping the nails short go a long way in preventing such problems.
WHEN TO SEE A DOCTOR
“Stomach flu and diarrhoea mainly causes dehydration. People with a stomach infection must keep themselves hydrated. Taking the ORS solution is even better,” said Dr Batra. However, if they do not get better after a day or if they have to go to the toilet more than three or four times a day, they must rush to a hospital, he said.
Buying antidiarrhoeal medicines over the counter is also a strict no-no as it may not help with bacterial diarrhoea. “In diarrhoea is caused due to bacterial infection, the body produces toxins, which need to come out of the body. The medicines stop the loose motions and hinder the process,” said Dr Srikant Sharma, senior consultant physician at Moolchand Hospital. CLEAN: Wash hands and surfaces often
Scrub hands with soap for at least 20 seconds and rinse.
Don’t handle food if you have diarrhoea or are vomiting, or have infected cuts or sores.
SEPARATE: Don’t cross-contaminate
Use separate cutting boards, plates, utensils and knives for raw meat and other foods. Damp dishcloths are breeding grounds for bacteria, so wash and dry before use. COOK: Cook and heat to kill bacteria and fungi
Harmful bacteria grow rapidly between 4°C and 60°C.
Meats, poultry, fish and eggs get contaminated faster than grains and vegetables, cook thoroughly to over 75°C.
CHILL: Refrigerate
Do not leave food out, refrigerate within two hours of cooking. Thaw food only under running water, or in the microwave.
IF IN DOUBT, THROW IT OUT
Contaminated foods don’t always smell bad, so if in doubt, throw it out.